Spanish A Level students this week enjoyed a special film screening of Federico García Lorca’s La casa de Bernarda Alba, followed by a Q&A with the play’s director. The Cervantes Theatre production, with an all-female cast, brought the text to life as it explored themes of repression, passion, and conformity through the depiction of a matriarch’s domination of her five daughters. One aspect of the play – imprisonment in a house – certainly took on a new perspective in the current Covid-19 pandemic.

While nothing can replace the experience of live theatre (our preferred option in normal times), all students involved agreed that the experience had enhanced their classroom studies. Rosie said: “It was definitely time well spent watching the words on the pages of Lorca’s play come to life and has bettered my understanding of the events and sentiments of his work.” Meanwhile fellow Upper Sixth Former Libby appreciated the ‘‘behind the scenes’ insight, saying: “It highlighted to me how different directors can bring about a huge difference to the plays. It was a wonderful interpretation and the Q&A session afterwards offered some key information.”

Spanish teacher Mrs Isabella Farràs added: “The pedagogical benefits of watching a play or film in the target language are unquestionable. The learning of the language becomes secondary as students are absorbed by the action of the plot and the reaction of the characters.”

It’s been a busy term for our Modern Foreign Languages Department, with autumn highlights including the ‘European Day of Languages’ and a Poetry Declamation Contest (see below). Next term, our Middles and Senior students can look forward to enhancing their Spanish and French writing skills with entries into two competitions: The Independent Schools’ Modern Languages Association Writing competition and Lancaster University’s Modern Languages in Schools Prize.

Until then… wishing everyone Feliz Navidad / joyeux Noël!

Poetry Declamation Winners and Video